Feature: August round-up

Star of the Month

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet / Photo Credit: Johan Persson

Taking on the title role in Lyndsey Turner’s production of Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre, Benedict Cumberbatch lives up to the hype. He takes to the stage with great intensity, giving a compellingly focused performance. Cumberbatch is an example of how stunt casting should be done. He has the talent and ability to pull off the mammoth task of taking on such an epic role whilst also attracting new people to the theatre. A triumphant performance - let's hope Cumberbatch finds a gap in his schedule so he can take the show to the West End or Broadway! Read our 4* review of Hamlet.

Show of the Month

Grand Hotel 

The cast of Grand Hotel / Photo Credit: Aviv Ron

Big Interview: Maury Yeston

Maury Yeston is an American composer, lyricist, author and teacher. 

After joining the creative team during out-of-town tryouts in Boston in 1989, Maury wrote several new songs for Grand Hotel which went on to transfer to Broadway where it won five Tony Awards. His contribution to Grand Hotel‘s score was nominated for a Tony and two Drama Desk Awards, and the Donmar Warehouse production picked up an Olivier Award.

Grand Hotel is currently being revived at the Southwark Playhouse by producer Danielle Tarento and director Thom Southerland, the same team who staged Maury’s musical Titanic at the Southwark Playhouse in 2013. The trio are hoping to reunite on a London revival of Death Takes a Holiday in the near future.

In addition to winning a Tony Award for Best Score for Titanic, Maury won a Tony Award and two Drama Desk Awards for his music and lyrics to Nine. Just a few of Maury’s other shows include Phantom, Death Takes A Holiday and the first entirely American full length ballet, Tom Sawyer: A Ballet In Three Acts which premiered in Kansas City. 

I recently sat down with Maury, who made a trip to London to see Grand Hotel, to discuss his thoughts on Southerland’s new production of Grand Hotel, how he originally came to join the musical’s creative team and the spectacular opening number ‘The Grand Parade’. We also talked about the new musical he’s writing, his advice for young writers, the golden age of musicals plus much, much more…

Were you impressed by this production of Grand Hotel?

Yes! Of course at the Southwark Playhouse everything is compressed. It’s shocking when you think the ordinary time frame for mounting a musical would be three or four week’s rehearsal and then two or three weeks of previews, but they just do it and the standard is so high!

Grand Hotel cancels tonight's performance

Tonight's performance of Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse has been cancelled following a road accident involving cast member Christine Grimandi.

A statement reads: "Following a road accident in which Grand Hotel actress Christine Grimandi was struck by a motorobike on a pedestrian crossing near Southwark Playhouse after the show, tonight’s performance of the acclaimed musical has had to be cancelled."

Producer Danielle Tarento said: “I’m very sorry to say that I have no choice but to cancel the show tonight. Christina is devastated but as a company we are just relieved she is OK. The good news is that, having spent the night with her in hospital, where she had numerous tests and scans, she has no broken bones and no concussion.”

Review: Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse

Grand Hotel
Southwark Playhouse
Reviewed on Tuesday 4th August 2015
★★★★

Set in 1928 Berlin, Grand Hotel is performed with alluring charm and mystery. The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1989, intertwines various storylines following both staff and guests at the hotel over the course of a weekend.

Production images released for Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse

Production images have been released for Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse which officially opens tonight (5th August). Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Grand Hotel runs until 5th September 2015. Thom Southerland directs. The show has book by Luther Davis and music and lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright with additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.

David Delve replaces Philip Rham in Grand Hotel

David Delve has replaced Philip Rham as Otternschlag in Thom Southerland's revival of Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse, two days ahead of the first preview. Rham has had to "reluctantly leave the production because of a family emergency". 

Producer Danielle Tarento said: "We wish Philip well and are thrilled to welcome to the production the fantastic David Delve to take over and play Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag. We thank David enormously for stepping in at such short notice."

Interview: James Gant, starring in Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse

James Gant is currently playing Rohna and Zinnowitz in Grand Hotel.

Directed by Thom Southerland, the musical opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 5th August (previews from 31st July) for a limited run until 5th September 2015. Grand Hotel premièred on Broadway in 1989 where it ran for over 1,000 performances and won five Tony Awards.

James recently completed a two year run in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre, understudying the roles of Jean Valjean and Javert. His theatre credits also include: understudy Mr Bumble in Oliver (UK tour), Poole in Jekyll and Hyde (UK tour), Evita (UK and international tour) and Crazy for You (London Palladium).

I recently spoke to James about the buzz surrounding Grand Hotel and why he thinks it’s going to be a special production as well as missing life in Les Mis, embracing the intimacy of the Southwark Playhouse and which songs he would take to a desert island…

How much did you previously know about Grand Hotel?

Very little! Because it hasn’t been performed for such a long time in this country it’s lovely to have something which feels so fresh. Having come straight from Les Mis, it’s quite easy to get into the habit of picking up what other people have done in a show before you but with this it’s lovely to be doing something which is completely new to me.

Rehearsal images released for Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse

Rehearsal images have been released for Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse. Check out the images below (click picture to enlarge).

Grand Hotel opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 5th August (previews from 31st July) for a limited run until 5th September 2015. Thom Southerland directs. The show has book by Luther Davis and music and lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright with additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.

Sneak peek at... Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse

Producers of Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse have released a sneak peek video of Victoria Serra, who stars in the show as Flaemmchen, performing 'Girl In The Mirror' from the show. Watch the video below.

Grand Hotel opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 5th August (previews from 31st July) for a limited run until 5th September 2015. Thom Southerland directs. The show has book by Luther Davis and music and lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright with additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.

Casting announced for Grand Hotel at the Southwark Playhouse

Casting has been announced for Grand Hotel which opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 5th August (previews from 31st July) for a limited run until 5th September 2015.

Grand Hotel premièred on Broadway in 1989, ran for over 1,000 performances and was nominated for twelve Tony Awards, winning five. 

Italian musical theatre star Christine Grimandi will make her UK stage debut as Grushinskaya.

The cast also includes: Scott Garnham (Baron), George Rae (Kringelein),  Victoria Serra (Flaemmchen), Philip Rham (Otternschlag), Jacob Chapman (Preysing), Valerie Cutko (Raffaela), Jonathan Stewart (Erik), James Gant (Rohna/Zinnowitz), Charles Hagerty (Sandor/Chauffeur) and Paul Iveson (Witt).

The cast is completed by: Rhiannon Howys, Jammy Kasongo, Ceili O'Connor, Durone Stokes, Samuel J Weir and Leah West.

Broadway musical Grand Hotel to open at the Southwark Playhouse

Tony award-winning Broadway musical Grand Hotel is set to open at the Southwark Playhouse on 5th August (previews from 31st July) for a limited run until 5th September 2015.

Grand Hotel premièred on Broadway in 1989, ran for over 1,000 performances and was nominated for twelve Tony Awards, winning five. 

The show has book by Luther Davis and music and lyrics by George Forrest and Robert Wright with additional music and lyrics by Maury Yeston.

Thom Southerland directs this new production with musical supervision from Simon Lee, musical direction from Michael Bradley, choreography by Lee Proud, set and costume design by Lee Newby, lighting by Derek Anderson, sound by Andrew Johnson and casting by Danielle Tarento who is also producing the production. Casting to be announced.